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Yet he hoped to arrange his departure in such wise that Irene Fenshawe might not have it in her heart that he had deserted her. Dick did not admit, even to himself, that he had any well-defined motive, other than the fulfilment of a promise, for wishing to stand well in the girl's esteem.
Fenshawe, remembering the girl's shyness of the previous day, may have thought a good deal, but said nothing, seeing that Irene was supremely indifferent to either his thoughts or his words at that instant, while Royson seemed to be heedless of any other fact than the exceedingly pleasant one that his beloved was holding a glass to his lips and asking him to gratify her by swallowing the contents.
The man pronounced the name plainly, so there could be no mistake as to his meaning, and Irene answered: "The Signora is not here." Mr. Fenshawe was immersed in his letters again, but he looked up. "What is it?" he demanded. "Some man is asking for Mrs. Haxton," she told him. "Better go and interview him. If he can tell us anything, bring him here." She went down-stairs with the attendant.
"My employer seems to have done things pretty thoroughly," he could not help saying. The shopman dug a compliment out of the remark. "Our house has a reputation to maintain," he answered, "and Mr. Fenshawe is one of our best and oldest customers." There was no mention of Count von Kerber, which added a ripple to the wave of astonishment in Royson's breast.
She flashed one quick glance at him, then smiled sweetly at Marchetti. "My distress ended when the Signorina Fenshawe was brought back to her friends. Of course, it was a dreadful thing that she should be carried off in such a way. Were it not for the skill and resource displayed by one of the Aphrodite's officers, there is no knowing what the consequences might have been."
Royson himself?" "Yes," said Mr. Fenshawe quietly, "that will be well. Send for him, Irene." It was noteworthy that he addressed no question to Mrs. Haxton. That lady, nervous and ill-at-ease, could not guess how far the rupture between von Kerber and his patron had gone.
The captain had half risen to hail Dick when Mrs. Haxton stopped him. "Let them go on," she cried. "They would not take my advice. Now they will find that we have beaten them by a good five minutes." Stump knew quite well, of course, that a broad-beamed English boat could not compete with the long, slim Somali craft, but he was aware also that Miss Fenshawe and Royson wished to land in company.
We need not both remain here until our friends arrive. Suppose you go and send your cablegram in peace. By the time you have written it we shall be close behind you. Pray don't wait on my account. You see I want to crow over Miss Fenshawe." "Just as you like, ma'am," said Stump, lifting his cap awkwardly. He went at the noisy mob like a battering-ram.
"I do not find favor in your eyes this morning, though it is good to know that I have reformed, since, by your own showing, I must have been always wrong aboard ship," said Dick, remounting. "Oh, it is a perfect luxury to have some one to pitch into," cried the girl, stirring the Somali with her heel. "But won't you tell me what I have done that vexes you, Miss Fenshawe?" "You are absurd.
He noticed that the Aphrodite was described as "owned by Hiram Fenshawe, Esq., of Chalfount Manor, Dorset, and Emperor's Gate, London, W.," while Baron Franz von Kerber figured as "controller and head of the expedition." The agreement was to hold good for six months, with an option, "vesting solely in the said Baron Franz von Kerber," to extend it, month by month, for another equal period.
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